The Zoras are a recurring race of aquatic creatures in The Legend of Zelda series. The majority of these creatures are tall, humanoid, and blue skinned. However, they can differ from game to game – even in the same game there are Zoras that look totally different from the others. King Zora XVI has a big and round body type, Queen Rutela has a mermaid look while Prince Ralis is very short and looks like a hybrid between a Zora and a Human.

There are two subspecies of Zora: River-Zoras and Sea-Zoras. The River-Zoras are the hostile monsters that Link fights. They pop out of the water and shoot fireballs at Link. On the other hand, the Sea-Zoras are the kind and peaceful creatures that Link interacts with in games. The appearance of the two species differ as well: the River-Zoras are monsters while the Sea-Zoras are more humanoid and aren't evil. The name of the subspecies is not necessarily derived from their habitats; Sea-Zoras can appear in Rivers and River-Zoras in the sea.

Biology

Rutela has a special look that differs from other Zoras

Zoras resemble other marine creatures. They have fins on both arms, and in Majora's Mask, Link used them as some sort of Boomerang. Their head has a tail that stretches out on the back. Most of them are humanoid looking, but there are exceptions such as Toto, King Zora, Ralis, etc. The males and females are hard to specify, since they look very similair and if the Zora isn't wearing clothes it's almost impossible to judge. Rutela in Twilight Princess looked more like a mermaid, and in that game the Zoras had armor instead of being "naked".

As with Deku Scrubs and Gorons, the Zora usually have a larger purpose in the plot. The leaders have been shown to be a little different from the general Zora and male too. Toto in Majora's Mask is a respected manager of the Indigo-Go's and he is very round. King Zora XVI from Ocarina of Time is also very large and in a place of leadership.

The River-Zoras are more monstrous-looking and haven't been shown as much. They like to fire energy bursts at Link. They have fangs and look more like monster fishes than Zoras. In A Link to the Past, the King of the Zoras was a River-Zora. He, along with the Zora found in the Animal Village of Link's Awakening, are the only known friendly River-Zoras.

A River-Zora, a monster that Link fights in some games.

Certain other features of the Zora biology are revealed when Link can inhabit the body of the Zora Mikau in Majora's Mask. When Link assumes his Zora body, he can swim with great ease and agility, using his forearm fins to perform barrel rolls or to jump out of the water. Moreover, these fins are specialized for Link's fighting needs. They can grow larger to serve as sharp-edged weapons similar to swords, and even be projected as twin boomerangs; they retract again when not in use. Link's right fin also grows to become his shield when defending.

Additionally, Zoras who possess magical power have the ability to create electric fields around their bodies as a defense mechanism when swimming, much like electric eels. This ability has only been seen and used in Majora's Mask. All Zoras are powerful swimmers – in fact, they are powerful enough to swim up waterfalls, as seen in Twilight Princess.

Hatched Zora Eggs, Posing As Notes.

It is also revealed in Majora's Mask that Zoras lay eggs to reproduce. Zora eggs need to be kept in cold, clean water in order to develop healthily, and every egg from the same clutch must be kept together in order for them to hatch. Newborn Zoras are tadpole-like with a circular body and a long, skinny tail ending in a fluke, much like a note.

Appearances

Zoras have appeared in most games in the series. In the first few, they were enemies, where as in later games they are a friendly race.

The Legend of Zelda

River-Zoras are the only variety seen in the The Legend of Zelda. They hide underwater until Link comes near, when they will shoot fireballs at him. These fireballs can only be blocked with the Magical Shield.

The Adventure of Link

A Link to the Past

"Like Poseidon in his day, Zora ruled the waterways of Hyrule, controlling storm and calm, current and waterfall. Zora's Spawn answered only to him, and he determined who would use the Whirlpools that carried swimmers from place to place. Zora's special Flippers let swimmers tread in even the deepest waters, butthey cost deeply."

— Nintendo Power Player's Guide

Once again, River-Zoras appear in A Link to the Past. They behave similarly to their counterparts in The Legend of Zelda by diving underwater and only coming up to shoot fireballs at Link. However, the King Zora is not hostile. He will sell Link the Flippers.

Seven years into the future, after Link withdraws the Master Sword, he visits Zora's Domain and discovers that it is completely frozen over. After traversing the Ice Cavern, he obtains the Iron Boots and can enter the Water Temple. In there, he finds Ruto, and once he defeats Morpha, she becomes the Sage of Water.

Majora's Mask

Zoras in Majora's Mask are found in the Great Bay region of Termina. There are several normal Zoras living in the area; however, there is also a popular Zora rock band called the Indigo-Go's. Like the Deku and Goron races, there is a mask allowing Link to turn into a Zora.

Zora Mask

One of Link's four transformation masks is the Zora Mask. After playing the Song of Healing to Mikau on the shores of Great Bay, his spirit gets turned into a mask. When Link wears said mask, he turns into the Zora guitarist himself. The mask not only allows Link to become a Zora but also to have the abilities of one as well. He can swim fast in water and attacks with the fins on his arms. His musical instrument to replace the Ocarina of Time is known as the Guitar of Waves.

Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages

The Zora race inhabits the seas south of the areas known as the Fairies' Woods in the Present and the Deku Forest in the Past. The live under the water in Zora Village, appropriately within the Zora Seas. Unlike the River Zoras, who will protrude from various waters and shoot fireballs at Link, the Sea Zoras are a gentle race of a more human-like appearance and intelligence.

Link will venture to Zora Village after completing the Mermaid's Cave and obtaining the Mermaid Suit, which allows him to swim and breath underwater. Upon traveling to the past age of Zora Village, Link will find that because of the pollution that fills the seas, thanks to Veran, King Zora has become very ill. In order to save King Zora's life, Link must bring him some Potion. King Zora will reward Link by giving him the key to the Eyeglass Island Library, where Link will then obtain the Fairy Powder, use it to return the Fairy Queen to her former-self, and ultimately have her to cleanse the seas of all the pollution. These acts will gain Link the trust of King Zora to enter their deity Lord Jabu-Jabu, which is actually the location of the seventh dungeon and Essence of Time.

Once Link obtains the seventh Essence, he will be given the Zora Scale for all he has done for the Zora people. This scale will allow Link to enter the Sea of Storms, located just east of Zora Village, and will lead to the eighth dungeon and final Essence of Time.

Eiji Aonuma has said that the Rito are the evolved form of the Zora. The Rito make many references to the Zora, such as the symbol of the Zora's Sapphire appearing on clothing, but the most convincing fact is that Medli shares a bloodline with a Zora, Laruto.